This got me thinking and gave me the idea for this blog post. As a book lover I wanted to know where the most beautiful libraries in the world are. I have complied the below list from my research, hopefully it will give you some inspiration for future library visits or maybe you are lucky enough to live near to one!

4. Royal Portuguese Reading Room in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Also known as The Real Gabinete Português de Leitura the library has the largest and most valuable literary of Portuguese outside Portugal. Constructed between 1880 and 1887, it has more than 350,000 volumes.

The statues and medallions sculptured in the entrance hall portray the eternal guardians of the human knowledge.

3. George Peabody Library, Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, USA

George Peabody Library, USA. Source: peabodyevents.library.jhu.edu

The George Peabody Library is a remarkable research library housed in a remarkable building. The brainchild of the philanthropist George Peabody, the goal of the library was to create a publicly-accessible collection that contained the best and latest literature in all branches of knowledge except law and medicine.

Starting in 1860, the library collection now contains over 300,000 volumes largely from the 18th and 19th centuries.

2. Trinity College Dublin Library in Dublin, Ireland

The Library’s history dates back to the establishment of the College in 1592 and it is the largest library in Ireland.

Today it has over 6 million printed volumes with extensive collections of journals, manuscripts, maps and music reflecting over 400 years. The most famous of its manuscripts are the Book of Kells and the Book of Durrow. Other special collections include the Ussher Collection acquired in 1661 and the Fagel Collection of 1802.

Bonus: The Codrington Library, Oxford, United Kingdom

I couldn’t do a list and not include on from my home country. The Codrington library can be found in Oxford in the United Kingdom.

The library is guardian to a death mask of Christopher Wren

The library is open to members of Oxford University through application and other bona fide researchers by appointment. The library boasts strong collection of law and historical works and also guardian to a number of objects including memorabilia of T.E Lawrence and a death mask of Christopher Wren one of the most highly acclaimed architects in British history.

Have you visited any of these libraries? Or do you have a suggestion to add to the list? Let me know in the comments!